Project Scratch-Built Scrambler

There is a point in a project build when the reality of finishing the rig is so close that driving it down the road could be just a week or two away! Our Scratch-Built Scrambler is starting to look, feel, and roll like the Jeep we've been designing for the last few years. We even made a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles to have it registered as a custom-built vehicle, which was also a major endeavor in patience and time.

Looking for a good coating to cover the interior of the Aqualu aluminum Jeep body, we hooked up with Rhino Linings and had the entire inside of the tub shot with the spray-on bed and body liners. Rhino Linings are a high-quality spray-on liners that work incredibly well at protecting surfaces and as sound-deadening material while also making for a nonslip/skid surface. We are extremely happy with how the linings turned out.

The guys at Overkill Engineering have done an incredible job reworking the Scrambler's rollcage and suspension. The four-link front suspension was redesigned and changed to a radius arms, and the cage was reworked to incorporate the seat mounts, which are also tied into the frame. This finally gave us the ability to securely mount the Mastercraft Baja RS seats we ordered up a number of years ago.

Since this is a scratch-built Jeep, a number of small components like hinges, seals, and cables were needed. We spent a lot of time thumbing through our favorite Omix-Ada/Rugged Ridge catalog and ordered many parts that will add the finishing touches to the Jeep.

With the temporary operating permit from the DMV taped to the front windshield, we hope to have the new/old Jeep on the trail quickly-the end of this build is near, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!